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Sexually Transmitted Diseases - what you need to know (part 3)Oct 20 '00 Write an essay on this topic.This epinion is a continuation of a previous one. Please refer to my other articles regarding this topic. Here, I am explaining the information you and your sexually active teenagers need to be aware of. Please be aware that some of these descriptions can be somewhat graphic. Hepetitis B Although immunizations have reduced the number of cases in the US, hepetitis B still remains the leading cause of liver inflammation throughout the world. This can be transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and semen. In the general population, hepetitis B is considered a sexually transmitted disease. The hepetitis B virus can cause a silent infection with no symptoms, or it can result in acute hepatitis or chronic hepatitis. Some people can become chronic carriers of the virus without ever developing hepatitis. This STD is not as widespread as some of the others, but is still worth mentioning. It may take up to 6 months for this disease to present itself. The symptoms of acute hepatitis vary and may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache and fever. These symptoms may be followed by the onset of jaundice, as well as darkening of the urine. Most people recover from acute hepatitis and are no longer infected when their illness ends. A small percentage may go on to develop chronic hepetitis, which can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Most patients can be diagnosed by a blood test. Mandatory reporting of this disease allows state health care workers to track people who have been exposed and to immunize contacts who have not yet developed the disease. It is important to always use a condom during sexual activity with someone who may be infected. Genital Herpes This is one of the most common STDs in the US, caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. At least 40 million people may have been infected with genital herpes. Up to 500,000 new cases are reported each year. This is one of the STDs that I feel everyone needs to be most aware of. A large number of people never show any symptoms and therefore pass it on to other sexual partners unknowingly. I have talked to many people, many who never thought they were susceptible to something like this. It is easily spread between sexual partners. There are many forms of this virus. Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2) are considered sexually transmitted, yet all forms are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. HSV1 is commonly known as the cause of cold sores and fever blisters on the mouth. HSV2 commonly causes sores and blisters in the genital area. Herpes can invade the body any place an active herpes lesion comes into contact with a break in the skin or the moist membranes of the mouth and genital areas. A person can become infected by kissing someone with a herpes cold sore. It can also be transmitted through oral sex. Someone who has a herpes cold sore can, through oral sex, give the recipient genital herpes. Herpes can be spread to a sexual partner even if the person is not showing any symptoms at all. With or without symptoms, this currently affects 1 in every 4 females and 1 in every 5 males in the U.S. Although many do not show any symptoms, there are still a large number of people who do develop outbreaks of herpes sores. An outbreak usually happens within 2-20 days after being infected. The first outbreak is often the worst and can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, aching pain, itching, burning, tingling, pain during urination and abdominal pressure. The sores usually appear as fluid-filled blisters, which over a few days break open, releasing small amounts of fluid for up to a few days (the fluid is highly infectious), the sore then forms a scab and heals completely. Often times, the first outbreak is the only one. (Though it is common for some to have 4-5 a year.) People tend to think that after the sores disappear, they can no longer spread the virus, be aware this is not the case. It is difficult to diagnose a person with genital herpes if sores are not presented. (When sores are there, a sample of fluid can be taken to confirm.) There is no reliable test to tell for sure whether a person is infected. For this reason alone, you should ALWAYS use a latex condom every time you have sex, because you can hardly ever be sure. There is no cure for herpes, it stays with you your entire life. Gonorrhea This is another very common STD. Approximately 600,000 cases are reported each year, but since many do not seek treatment for this disease, it it thought that there may be up to 3 million cases annually. It can be passed from person-to-person through all sexual contact, leading to infections in the throat and genital regions. Untreated, it can lead to fever, chills, and painful swelling of the genitals and prostate in men. In women, infections that go untreated can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, resulting in sterility, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease. It can also spread through the bloodstream, and affect a joint, causing gonococcal arthritis. It may also multiply in the bloodstream, affecting organs such as the brain and heart. If a pregnant woman does not seek treatment, her baby can be born with a severe eye infection. This disease is easily transmitted and highly contagious. Again, many people do not have symptoms at all until the condition worsens. Your doctor may suspect gonorrhea based on your symptoms, or sexual activity. A sample swab of the infection area may be taken to confirm. Antibiotics will usually treat it. To lessen your chances of contracting this STD, practice abstinence, sex with a non-infected partner or always use a latex condom every time you have sex. It is important to diagnose and treat as soon as possible. Please talk with your teenagers about STDs. It is important that they know this information, for whenever they decide to begin having sex. Many teenagers (and adults) are not aware of this information, how easy it is to contract an STD and how widespread they are. This epinion has been seperated into parts for easier reading, please follow through with my next article. Thanks.  |
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